Starchild: Malaysian children enjoy camping outdoors

Chloe Leong Xizhen, 8

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ITEM: Another prominent festival is coming up. Come Feb 1, the Chinese will celebrate Spring Festival or Chinese New Year.

Do you still mail out Chinese New Year cards or send e-greeting cards? Some of you might prefer to send SMSes for festive greetings.

Here's your chance to send a new year greeting. Draw a Chinese New Year card and write a message (keep it short and sweet) to your friends or loved ones. As it is the Year of the Tiger, maybe you want to be creative and draw a tiger on the card. If you like, you can draw tangerines and firecrackers or even a dancing lion.

E-mail your contributions to [e-mail] by Jan 23. Please put "STARCHILD: "Chinese New Year" in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200 dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact and address.

Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.

Many children enjoy outdoor activities like camping or hiking because they get to enjoy nature while spending time with loved ones.

Camping is a good family activity as it's fun and it also helps children build resilience.

Outdoor activities also allow children to take a break from social media and their gadgets.

Here's what Starchild readers had to say on the topic, Camping.

Lee Cheng Yee, 9

"I love camping and sleeping in the tent with my family. We enjoy eating toasted marshmallows, barbequed chicken BBQ,and admiring the stars and moon," writes Norlick Titi, six.

Norlick Titi, 6

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 6

"I would love to pitch a long tent and camp with my brother in the jungle. We would pack some sandwiches for our meals. During the day, we will play 'I Spy'. At night, we will enjoy shadow play in the tent and gaze at the many stars in the sky," says Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, six.

Asher Wang Qi Chuen, 4

Younger sibling Asher Wang Qi Chuen, four, is looking forward to his first camping trip with his parents and sister. "Bethany and I have not gone camping before but I am sure it will be fun. I will bring along mosquito repellent to protect myself from mosquito bites. I will zip up my tent at night for safety from wild animals."

"I enjoyed camping at Penang Hill. The weather is cold at night. It was cozy sleeping in the tent with my brother. I wish to have a camper van so that we can go camping wherever we want," says Valor Teoh, seven.

Valor Teoh, 7

"My most memorable camping trip was with my family in the jungle. We have fun roasting marshmallows under the shining stars at night," says Victoria Liew Yen Yi, nine.

Victoria Liew Yen Yi, 9

Wong Jie Ern, 5

Wong Jie Ern, five, enjoys camping with her family. "We can play many games at the camping site. Also, I love to cook food together with my family."

Wong Cheng Yang, 7

Older brother Wong Cheng Yang, seven, says: "I love camping because it's the best time to train our fears from darkness. I hope to camp near the beach after the pandemic. We can have barbeque for our dinner, and we can eat marshmallows for dessert."

Claire Yap Jyn Wei, 6

Claire Yap Jyn Wei, six, likes camping because she can sleep in a tent. "My sister Sophie and I like to eat marshmallows, and use the bucket of water to put out the fire! We enjoy nature very much."

Sophie Yap Jyn Qing, 8

Older sibling Sophie Yap Jyn Qing, eight, says: "I have drawn a picture of a cat that's camping near the river. He wants to clear all the rubbish from the river, but he can't do it in one night, so he camped there. He's packed a tuna sandwich for dinner."

Jodie Tan Li Juen, 12

Jodie Tan Li Juen, 12, writes, "I love to go camping with my family and friends. It is more fun and enjoyable as we can experience doing things together like setting a campfire, barbeque and fishing. These memories are still fresh in my memory."

Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 9

"A first aid kit, sleeping bags, food and water are important items needed during camping. If you are planning to go swimming, bring a pair of sandals. My cousin and I love to go fishing in the stream. The water is cold and refreshing. I hope to go camping during the next school holidays," says nine-year-old Jayden Tan Li Sheng. – Compiled by Sheela Chandran

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